Stephanie Rice and Kobe Bryant Affair? Sexy Swimmer Says They are Just Friends [Photos]

Olympic Swimmer Stephanie Rice denied rumors that she and Kobe Bryant are having an affair in London.

The 24-year-old stunning swimmer and Bryant are the talk of the Olympics after reportedly hanging out numerous times together, according to the Daily Mail.

The rumors have spread among Olympic athletes even when Bryant's wife Vanessa and her children are in London with him.

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"FYI yes Kobe and I are friends, but no we are not together and never have been. Can't guys and girls be just friends..?" she tweeted Thursday.

"He's an amazing athlete and I've enjoyed getting to know him and many other great athletes in my Olympic journey," Rice continued.

Another Australian swimmer, Craig Stevens, fueled the fling rumors.

"I was a swimmer at the last Olympics and he was hanging round us a fair bit, at different parties and what not," he reportedly said.

"I remember her [Rice] telling a story how he kind of put it to her. He had the family coming in the next day but he had that night free."

But Stevens later retracted with The Daily Telegraph and said he would take back his comments if he could.

"I have honestly felt sick after what I said, I had no right to make comments with second hand information," he told the paper. "I did not realize he was still married. I thought he had been separated, hence why I thought something could be happening."

In July, Rice tweeted a photo with Bryant with their arms around each other by the pool.

"First piccy with a 'star' going to be hard to beat...Kobe" she wrote along with the image.

But rumors about their romance returned when Rice and Bryant attended the cycling sprint together on Tuesday and she showed up to the Men's Basketball quarterfinal when Team USA defeated Australia, according to photos published by the Daily Mail.

But Rice didn't just show up in any way - she wore a sexy black leather mini skirt and her hair loose for the match, according to pictures. The Olympic swimmer was the talk of the Internet in June when she posted racy photos of herself wearing a tiny bikini.

Bryant and his wife Vanessa reportedly filed for divorce in 2011 amid reports that he had affairs during their marriage but they seem to be working on a reconciliation and their divorce was put to rest.